PITTSBURGH — By rule of law — the rule of Major League Baseball, actually — the Phillies are required to have an All-Star representing them in Minneapolis next week in the All-Star Game, no matter how ridiculously unworthy you might find them of an “atta guy” for what has been a monumental waste of $185 million.

Fortunately, there wasn’t the need to sift through the player votes for a winner. That’s because, thanks to a very hot opening six weeks that have sufficiently masked his positively miserable last six weeks, Chase Utley was voted as the starting second baseman for the National League squad.

That is all for All-Stars for the Phillies. Outfielder Marlon Byrd (.266, 18 homers, 52 RBIs, .814 OPS) has been their best offensive player, and closer Jonathan Papelbon (1.35 ERA, 19 saves in 21 opportunities) had arguments for consideration, but considering the way the Phillies have played of late, it was tough for either to garner support.

Utley, 35, will make his sixth All-Star appearance and fifth start, but his first since 2010. He is batting .286 with a .776 OPS and six home runs and 40 RBIs while playing in 84 of the Phillies’ 88 games this season. He was out of the starting lineup Sunday as the Phillies lost for the 13th time in their last 16 games, 6-2, to the Pirates at PNC Park.

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“Ideally it’d be better if we had more wins in the win column,” Utley said after getting word that he won the voting that he led by a wide margin throughout the process. “But obviously I’m honored to represent the Phillies and the National League in the All-Star game. It’s been a lot of fun.”

“It’s been a few years since I’ve been able to participate. I’m going to try to enjoy it.”

Utley had to deal with debilitating knee problems in 2011 and 2012, and last season an oblique injury had him on the shelf for parts of May and June.

This season, he has been able to stay on the field.

“You guys know I’ve had some issues over the past few years,” Utley said of his injuries. “I think all the time and the hard work I’ve put in has paid off ... I always thought I had an opportunity to, but i needed to stay on the field. I needed to get my body right. I feel like I’ve done a good job of doing that.

“Obviously your first All-Star game you really appreciate. After the issues I’ve gone through over the past two or three years, it is nice to be back.”

That said, it has been a tale of two halves to Utley’s first half. He batted .489 through the first 13 games of the season, and after Game 40 he was hitting .347 with a .971 OPS -- statistics that had him running away with the fan voting at second base.

Since then, he has sagged badly — a .236 average, a .615 OPS and just 10 extra-base hits in 201 plate appearances in Phils’ last 48 games, 44 of which he has started.

“He was outstanding all the way through May,” Ryne Sandberg said of Utley. “He was hitting .340 and tearing the cover off the ball. He tapered off some in June. His overall steadiness and his defense has picked up and been solid. It’s hard to argue (about the selection).”

Utley signed a contract extension with the Phillies last summer, as both the player and team decided to continue the relationship instead of the second baseman perhaps joining a contender at the trade deadline and hitting the free-agent market last winter. It was a curious choice at both ends, and one that has Utley strapped to an organization that doesn’t seem to have any shot of getting itself on track in the near future.

That said, Giants scout and Utley’s close friend Pat Burrell was in Pittsburgh this weekend. Utley lives in the Bay Area, and San Francisco is in need of an upgrade at second base and a top-of-the-order bat since outfielder Angel Pagan went on the disabled list with back trouble last month.

If there is a fit for Utley to work out an agreement to waive his no-trade rights and move on, that would seem to be the place to go. For now, he remains dedicated to the Phillies.

“I think you guys know being around me long enough,” he said, “that I try not to look too far into the future. I try to prepare for the next day. A lot can happen between now and the end of the month, both good and bad. We’ll see how it plays out.